What a simple phrase that is – without offence toward God and man. Paul said of himself that he strove always to have a conscience that he was free from any offence. He did not want to offend God or man in word or action or attitude. He had an important task to achieve. If the gospel caused offence, as it surely would, so be it. But he could not cause offence.
We live in an age where an offence almost seems like something to strive for. I think social media has a lot of positives, but in things like things its anonymity seems to bring out the worst in people. There is a ‘gotcha’ attitude where people who are possibly very kind and polite and non-offensive in person are rough and tough and vitriolic on Facebook. People, even some Christians, seem determined to cause an offence in order to get a response and then claim persecution.
There is no place for God’s people to ever be an offence. To be an offence toward men is by nature to offend God. We can’t show love for God and hatred toward others.
Sometimes our message may indeed cause an offence. No one wants to hear that they are sinners and they need to repent.
The problem is when we are the problem and we cause an offence just by being a jerk
My brethren, this things ought not so to be.
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